So, what are the chances of me finding another Indie author who writes fiction for young readers (well, young adults) about the power of wishes PLUS living thousands of miles away in Japan? Isn't the internet amazing at building community!

While you may not want to follow Snoopy’s lead and use Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s opener to the 1830 novel, Paul Clifford, perhaps you’ll be inspired to write your own book during National Novel Writing Month. You’ll be in the good company of 154,000+ others trying their hand at a 30-day book: NaNoWriMo And if you have a hankering for tackling an e-book, check out blogger Amy Lynn Andrews comprehensive, user-friendly guide for how to finally write that ebook ..... one of the best guides I've come across.

I bumped into him while wandering about the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at NC State University.

I just love gardens and funky garden art like this!

Sir Snarleigh also got me thinking about dragons featured in books throughout the ages...from scary ones in Beouwulf to helpful critters in Michael Ende's The Neverending Story and babies such as Hagrid's pet, Norbet, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.Should you meet a dragon in your garden or next book, I hope he is as friendly and colorful as Sir Snarleigh!

With Halloween right around the corner, it's a good time for a literary fright night with one of America's foremost writers of spooky fiction .... Edgar Allen Poe. iPoe, a new rendition of the author's classic tales, morphs Poe's original work into an interactive collection of four short stories, including TheTell-tale Heart and The Mask of the Red Death. It is appropriate for older children as well as adults.

Beware...the collection has some pop-ups that startled me, so I would not recommend iPoe for younger readers. Check out the iTunes link and review from AppAdvice below.